Just another WordPress.com site

While this blog isn’t intended to become a ‘forum’ per se, all comments will be read and vetted before being posted. In order for your comment to be considered for ‘publication’ on the blog, there will be a few basic rules that you must adhere to.

1) From Monday 22/8/11, no post will be considered for inclusion on the blog if it isn’t accompanied by a full name and the area in which you live. If you want to post anonymous nastiness about people, there are plenty of other forums for you to do it in, such as the Northern Echo and, if they’ll have you, MCN. Already, at least one suspected Middlesbrough councillor has sent a comment, thinking that he would be anonymous and there’s also another ‘anonymous’ councillor over on the Echo site banging on about it.

It’s simple. If you have something to say, at least have the courage of your convictions to put your name to it!

2) This blog is meant to be a positive force for change in Middlesbrough. I think that people are already aware of the problems that the town faces, so from 22/8/11, comments targeting particular individuals or political groups will not be added to the blog. I think at this stage, everyone knows who is responsible for the problems that Middlesbrough faces. What we need to do is look for ways to put them right, rather than just grizzle about ‘who did what’. Let’s look optimistically forward to the future, not bitterly back at the past.

3) If you want to send a comment that is just a message of support and is not for general publication, please mark the top of your message ‘PRIVATE – NOT FOR PUBLICATION’ and this will be respected at all times. Messages come with details of the email address of the sender. All ‘NFP’ (NOT FOR PUBLICATION) comments will be responded to via email.

4) If the blog owner (that’s me!) feels that a comment makes pertinent points but breaches the above ground rules, then the comment may still be published in an edited format, except where comments are clearly marked as PRIVATE. This will be done in order to address the pertinent comments whilst removing anything people may find personal or inflammatory. I will endeavour to ensure that any editing does not change the meaning of the original comment. i.e., I wont make it look like you are saying something completely at odds to your original comment! By sending a comment, you accept that it may be edited before publication.

5) Finally, and most importantly, let’s hear your ideas and views on how we can ‘mobilise Middlesbrough’ and get them to realise that if Middlesbrough is to be turned around, they need to re-engage with politics and think about who they are voting for, instead of the same old ‘I vote for X because my Dad did’. I’m just one lad and I don’t want this campaign to be just me, because it’s about empowering the people of Middlesbrough to choose a better future for the town. As such, I need as much help and support and as many ideas as I can get to drive the campaign forwards, so don’t be shy!

There is a distinct difference between ‘posts’ and ‘comments’ made in reference to them. As owner of the blog, I will post anything I feel is relevant and current and my thoughts and opinions on those subjects. On most occasions, it is impossible to post without making reference to a party or individual. Could you imagine trying to write the post about my letter to Sir Stuart Bell without actually naming him? Would there even be any point in doing so?

The above rule pertains to comments, not posts. The reasoning behind the rule is that it protects the blog from degenerating into a re-run of the Evening Gazette or MCN forums, where threads would begin in an informative and amicable manner but would soon be hijacked and degenerate into personal insult and baiting. Essentially, if I allow one poster to make a comment aimed at an individual, then I have to allow that person the right of reply or be accused of showing bias in the way that I edit comments. At that point, we’re on the brink of returning to the same old posting pattern. Rather than commit to taking a step down that path, and to avoid disappointing people by refusing to post comments which they have taken the time to submit, the ruling stands as an instruction not to waste time trying to pick a fight.

I’m sorry if you aren’t happy with my response or reasoning, Kevin, this is not a forum, it is my own blog, created for me to express my own opinions on issues which affect the town. You are under no obligation to visit, read or take part. Yesterday saw my highest number of ‘hits’ since I began blogging, so I guess I’m doing something right.

And it is pertinent to point out that anyone that I may discuss in any of my posts is very welcome to respond to the post, as long as they do so using their real name.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. I think the last time I blogged, it was with regard to filming issue back in May. I try to squeeze blogging in around my family and work time; sometimes it’s not as easy as I’d like it to be. If you register your details as a ‘follower’ (I hate that word – it conjures up images of some sort of prophet and, as MBC would probably agree, I’m not the Messiah, I’m a naughty boy!) you will get an email notifying you whenever new blogs are published. Your contact details would not be used for any other purpose or passed to third parties by me but I can’t vouch for what the host site, WordPress, does with that info.